Scotland's hospitality industry has pleaded with Nicola Sturgeon not to impose a second full lockdown that could see businesses told to close.
Hotel and restaurant owners have warned that many will simply not reopen if the Scottish Government orders them to shut for a temporary period this month.
It comes as the public and businesses anxiously await a decision from the First Minister on whether she will impose yet more lockdown restrictions.
Sturgeon will brief her Cabinet on the latest medical advice today but is not expected to make a statement to the Scottish Parliament until tomorrow.
But those working in the hospitality sector have questioned the presumption that their businesses must close as part of a circuit breaker lockdown.
Stephen Leckie, owner of the Crieff Hydro hotel and chair of the Scottish Tourism Alliance, said October was the last month many businesses made money before the onset of winter.
"If we were to close we would walk straight from the frying into the fire in November," he told BBC Scotland radio.
"For the following five months this industry and its people will lose money and many just won't reopen next year."
He added: "We do rotas seven days in advance. We have 700 people working across our company this weekened. We can't simply tell them, we're locking down, we can't pay you.
"To pay 2,000 customers back their deposits costs money in terms of administration. It's a mammoth task.
"Surely there must be other levels we can pull to tackle this virus. A blanket travel restriction can't be the answer.
Corina Conti, whose family owns three restaurants in Edinburgh, said: "We had a three month lockdown. That was supposed to be our medicine to get the virus under control. We suffered all of that.
"Businesses suffered hugely. Many didn't reopen. The thought of a further lockdown, however short, will have a devastating consequences for many businesses and many in the community.
"We are providing a safe environment for customers to come into and socailise. We have invested heavily to provide a safe environment for the community."
"This is a fait accompli. Is this really the only alternative? Where is the evidence the hospitality sector is the cause of the virus?"
Tim Allen of the Scottish Chamber of Commerce said: "Businesses cannot be opened and closed like switching on and off a light.
"There has to be planning involved with staff and suppliers.
"You can't close a building site, for example, one week and then tell it to reopen two weeks later."
